[Chapter 1: Words that Protect Me from Myself]
First words, I like myself _#Getting close to me
The first step to protecting myself: I am my first friend

Second word, I believe in myself _#don't worry in advance
The first step to protecting myself: turning worry into courage

Third word, I set the standard _#My body positivity
The first step to protecting myself: finding my own beauty

Fourth Word: It's Getting Better _#Setting Small Goals
The first step to protecting myself: starting with what I can do now.

[Chapter 2: Words that Protect Me from You]
The fifth word, it's not wrong, it's just different _#Speaking my mind
The First Step to Protecting Myself: Practice Speaking Your Thoughts

Sixth Word, I Accept Myself _#Accept Me as I am
The First Step to Protecting Yourself: Developing Your Own Character

Seventh Word: If I don't want it, I don't like it _#Have the courage to say no
The First Step to Protecting Myself: Rejection for Myself

Eighth Word: Open your heart first _#Speak and understand your feelings
The First Step to Protecting Yourself: Sharing Your Feelings

[Chapter 3: The Words That Protect Me from Ourselves]
Ninth Word, I am me _#Act like me
The first step to protecting myself: To fight against gender discrimination, I must first be myself.

The tenth word: Don't be concerned about what others think _#Respect individuality and tastes
The first step to protecting myself: Now is the era of respecting taste.

Eleventh Word, I Decide _# Find What I Want to Do Myself
The First Step to Protecting Myself: The Dream List I Create

The twelfth word, we are equally precious _#Know and judge correctly
The first step to protecting myself: For a world where everyone is precious.

Be firm and unwavering in your own words!
The Power of a Word: Standing with Everyone and Protecting My Place

We live in various situations, exchanging various words.
Among them, there are words that make me feel intimidated and pitiful, negative and aggressive words that make me unable to move.
These are the words I say to myself, my close family and friends say them, and our society says them too.
At times like these, I need words of encouragement and support, words that can correct my thoughts when they are headed down the wrong path.
- From the author's words

"Twelve Words That Protect Me" is a book about language.
We've compiled twelve of the most common negative comments children make and hear.
It clearly informs people of the errors in such 'negative words' and suggests 'positive words' to change their thoughts and lead them to take action.
Through this book, children will be able to determine the direction of their lives based on the right words, and will naturally grow into solid adults with their own correct philosophy and beliefs.

★ Words that protect me from myself
The smile that says, “Everyone hates me,” is just a way to impress your friends.
When she changes her words to “I like myself,” Miso’s thoughts change.
After exploring what I like and becoming familiar with myself, I gained the confidence to make new friends.
Everyone has times when they hate and dislike someone.
This book makes you think about what kind of heart and words are needed to love yourself as you are.

★ Words that protect me from 'you'
When Jeong-ah hears, “You’re kind, so you should give in,” she cannot refuse and suffers in silence, thinking that it would be better for her to endure.
I gained courage after saying no by saying, “I don’t want it.”
If you consider yourself first, you will be able to truly consider others.

There are times when we get hurt by people close to us.
If I only think about my position, communication will not work.
We must respect each other.
This book explores how to show your true self in relationships.

★ Words that protect me from 'us'
Jiho, a child from a multicultural family who hears, “You are different from us,” is ostracized in his daily life without any hesitation.
We learn to make sound judgments about discrimination and hatred by saying, “We are equally valuable.”
Prejudice and stereotypes are entrenched in our society.
Sometimes, even if something is not said with bad intentions, it can be considered discrimination.
This book examines how to live like a human being by confronting misconceptions and encourages us to think together about how to find our place in society.


Protecting each other's individuality
Learning 'sensitivity'

Sensitivity refers to the ability to sense what is wrong in our society.
Therefore, a keen sense of sensibility enables us to be aware of problems, understand and grasp situations, and create and implement solutions.
Adult sensitivity, human rights sensitivity, etc. are in the same context.
This book helps develop 'sensitivity' to language.
When faced with an incorrect statement, we raise the question, "Why is it incorrect?" and consider "How should I say it?" to resolve the issue with the correct statement.
Through this process, children acquire sensitivity.
In doing so, you will be able to carefully check whether the words you use are appropriate and be sensitive to incorrect expressions.

In this way, sensitivity is a combination of emotional empathy and rational understanding, asking, "What would I do?"
When sensitivity is well established, we can protect each other's individuality by thinking that the other person is as precious as we are.



Stories I can relate to because I am 'me'
Meet the twelve mes in our class

When you think, 'This is my story!', you become immersed and empathetic.
This book deals with the concerns that all children have experienced at least once.
Here, twelve children from the same class gathered.
Children each have different personalities and different thoughts.
So, the worries and wounds are different.
Some children feel like everyone hates them, while others don't like the way they look.
Some children feel ignored by their friends, while others cannot say no.
Some children are angry about gender discrimination, while others come from multicultural families where discrimination is a daily occurrence.
The twelve stories that unfold in the world of children in our class will ultimately be someone's 'my story.'
Let's face it, someone who has had the same experience as me.
You will gain great courage by empathizing with how and with what words you overcame.


◆ Curriculum linkage
Elementary Morality 3〉 1.
Me and you, we together
Elementary Morality 4〉 6.
A rainbow world we dream of together
Elementary Korean 5-1〉 1.
Dialogue and empathy
Elementary Korean 5-2〉 1.
Let's talk and share our hearts
Elementary Morality 5〉 2.
My precious friend inside me
6.
We live together respecting human rights
Elementary Morality 6〉 1.
I am the master of my life